Wiltshire White Horses

These striking figures are cut into the exposed white chalk of hillsides and remain visible from miles away, becoming natural landmarks that define how you experience this rolling landscape.

The Westbury White Horse near Bratton is the most visited and among the oldest. More recently, the Devizes Millennium White Horse was created in 1999 on Roundway Hill, stretching 150 feet long. The Pewsey White Horse and Alton Barnes White Horse are equally worth exploring, positioned across the Vale of Pewsey in a way that creates interesting visual connections between them.

The carvings span different centuries, from centuries-old figures to recent creations. What makes them genuinely compelling is that earlier versions often remain faintly visible beneath current carvings, so you're looking at layered records of different generations marking the same hillsides over time.

Visiting requires minimal effort. Most sites are easily reached from nearby roads with established viewpoints, parking areas, and walking trails in the vicinity. The key is finding the right vantage point to appreciate the full scale of each figure against the downs. Devizes, Westbury, and villages around the Vale of Pewsey all work well as bases for exploring the white horses and the wider downland landscape.